Housing for an optoelectronic component emitting electromagnetic radiation, component emitting electromagnetic radiation, and method for the production of a housing or a component

ABSTRACT

A housing for an electromagnetic-radiation-emitting optoelectronic component. Exterior side faces of the housing are at least partly provided with a screening layer suitable for screening an electromagnetic radiation. A lateral emission of electromagnetic radiation from the housing, which is disadvantageous for many applications, is thereby intended to be avoided. An electromagnetic-radiation-emitting component having a housing of this type and a method for producing a corresponding housing or component are additionally described.

This patent application claims the priority of German Patent Application102005034166.7, the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

The invention relates to a housing for an optoelectronic component whichis suitable for emitting an electromagnetic radiation during itsoperation. It additionally encompasses anelectromagnetic-radiation-emitting component having a housing of thistype and also a method for producing a housing or component of thistype.

Housings for electromagnetic-radiation-emitting optoelectroniccomponents having a basic body, which defines a cutout, are known. Thebottom of said cutout is provided for mounting a luminescence diodechip. The internal walls of the cutout may be formed in the manner of areflector, so that part of an electromagnetic radiation emitted by theluminescence diode chip can be deflected into a desired emission solidangle by means of the internal walls.

In many cases, the basic body for housings of this type comprises aplastic. In addition, housings are also known, for example, in which thebasic body partly or completely comprises a ceramic material.

Optoelectronic components which emit an electromagnetic radiation arebeing employed more and more often in headlight or projectionapplications. One example of a headlight in whichelectromagnetic-radiation-emitting luminescence diodes are used isspecified in WO 2004/088200. The headlight elements specified in saiddocument can also be used for projection applications, by way ofexample.

In headlight or projection applications it is important for anelectromagnetic radiation emitted by luminescence diode chips to beemitted with a highest possible radiation density into a predetermined,narrow solid angle. For this purpose, by way of example, cones of raysare projected onto a desired plane by means of optics such as projectionlenses. In applications of this type, irregularities in the emissioncharacteristic of optoelectronic components used may be amplified andtherefore be of particularly great significance. There is therefore aneed for corresponding components which, with regard to their emissionproperties, are embodied specifically for applications of this type.

One object to be achieved consists in specifying a housing of the typementioned in the introduction which is improved compared with knownhousings by means of technically simple measures with regard to emissioncharacteristics that can be achieved. The housing is intended, inparticular, to be better suited to headlight and/or projectionapplications. In addition, the intention is to specify a componenthaving a housing of this type and a method for producing a housing ofthis type.

A housing of the type mentioned in the introduction is specified whichhas exterior side faces which are at least partly provided with ascreening layer. The screening layer is suitable for screening anelectromagnetic radiation, provision being made, in particular, forexternally screening an electromagnetic radiation that is generated oris to be generated in the interior of the housing. As a result, in thecase of corresponding optoelectronic components having a housing of thistype, a lateral emergence of electromagnetic radiation from the housingcan advantageously be significantly reduced or completely avoided.

In conventional electromagnetic-radiation-emitting components it hasbeen established that housing bodies which have a plastic and/or aceramic material are often partly transmissive for the electromagneticradiation. Particularly in the case of housings having thin housingwalls, part of the electromagnetic radiation generated in the interiorof the housing penetrates through said walls. Consequently, theelectromagnetic radiation is emitted not only into a preferred solidangle, but also laterally from the housing.

Such a laterally emitted electromagnetic radiation is not disturbing formany applications, since it makes up only a small proportion of theradiation intensity emitted in total from the housing. It has beenestablished, however, that the laterally emitted electromagneticradiation can have a disturbing effect particularly in headlight andprojection applications. This is the case for example in applications inwhich a cone of rays with a well-defined luminance distribution andsharp bright/dark transitions is to be obtained.

With the measure of providing exterior side faces of the housing with ascreening layer, a technically simple and efficient means for improvingthe emission characteristic of housings of this type is specified. It isadvantageous that applying a screening layer to exterior side faces ofthe housing does not, in principle, require a special housing design,rather it can be carried out for many conventional housings.

Exterior side faces of the housing are to be understood as externalfaces of a housing body of the housing which are inclined away from anemission axis provided for a component having the housing. The emissionaxis runs, in particular, perpendicular to a chip mounting plane or ahousing mounting plane of the housing and also through a region providedfor a luminescence diode chip such as, for example, a light-emittingdiode. External faces whose main plane of extent extends perpendicularto the emission axis or is inclined towards the emission axis are notexterior side faces. Moreover, rear-side external faces that face awayfrom an emission side of the housing preferably likewise do not comeunder the expression “exterior side faces”.

The exterior side faces may be partly or completely embodied in planarfashion. It is also possible as an alternative or in addition for theexterior side faces to be concavely or convexly curved or to bestructured in some manner or other.

The screening layer is suitable, in particular, for screening anelectromagnetic radiation which encompasses a spectral range of anelectromagnetic radiation emitted by a luminescence diode chip, theluminescence diode chip being provided for a component having thehousing. The screening layer is particularly preferably suitable forcompletely screening an electromagnetic radiation, that is to say thatthe screening layer is particularly preferably opaque to anelectromagnetic radiation of a wavelength range to be screened. However,it is also possible for the screening layer also to be partlytransmissive for electromagnetic radiation. By way of example, it may bepartly transmissive for electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength rangethat is not necessarily to be screened or else for an electromagneticradiation that is to be screened. The electromagnetic radiation to bescreened is preferably visible light.

The screening layer preferably has a total transmittance of less than orequal to 0.1, particularly preferably of less than or equal to 0.05, fora wavelength range to be screened of an electromagnetic radiationemitted by a luminescence diode provided for the component having thehousing. Said total transmittance is particularly advantageouslyapproximately 0 at least for the visible portion of the radiation.

In the present case the term “screening layer” does not encompasselectrical connection conductors or electrical conductor tracks of thehousing. Rather, the housing is either free of electrical conductortracks or electrical connection conductors on the exterior side faces orthe housing has, at the exterior side faces, at least one screeninglayer in addition to any electrical connection conductors or electricalconductor tracks present.

In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the screening layer hasa material that is reflective for the electromagnetic radiation. As aresult, the electromagnetic radiation can be reflected back into ahousing body from the exterior side faces and is therefore notnecessarily lost for a utilization.

In addition or as an alternative, the screening layer advantageously hasa material that is absorbent for the electromagnetic radiation. Suitableabsorbent materials may advantageously be particularly cost-effectiveand screen the electromagnetic radiation with high efficiency. Theabsorbent material particularly preferably comprises a black material,that is to say that the colour of the material is perceptible to thehuman eye as a black hue.

In accordance with one expedient embodiment, the screening layer has alacquer. Lacquers are cost-effective materials which can be applied in atechnically simple manner.

The exterior side faces expediently comprise external faces of a housingbody which has ceramic material. In addition or as an alternative, theexterior side faces comprise external faces of a housing body which, inaccordance with a further expedient embodiment, has at least oneplastic. Plastics and ceramic materials such as are used forconventional optoelectronic housings are often transmissive forelectromagnetic radiation such as, for example, visible light. It istherefore particularly expedient to provide housings of this type withthe screening layer.

Particularly advantageously, the exterior side faces of the housing areat least partly inclined with respect to a plane running perpendicularto a mounting plane of the housing. The exterior side faces areinclined, in particular, in such a way that they at least partly faceaway from the mounting plane of the housing. This may be advantageousfor applying the screening layer, since the inclined portions of theexterior side faces do not run perpendicular to the mounting plane ofthe housing and are thus accessible not only laterally but also fromabove. A top side of the housing is principally to be understood as aside which faces away from a mounting plane of the housing.

Particularly preferably, the exterior side faces are inclined withrespect to the plane at least partly between 30° and 60° inclusive.

Advantageously, at least one exterior side face is essentiallycompletely covered with the screening layer. In this context a side faceis to be understood as the surface of a housing body on one of its mainsides. By way of example, a housing body having an essentially square orrectangular basic form has four lateral main sides. In accordance withthis embodiment, the external face on at least one of the main sides isessentially completely covered with the screening layer.

Furthermore, a housing is specified in which the screening layeradvantageously has plastic or comprises plastic. Plastics mayadvantageously have absorbent properties and be able to be applied inthe form of a coating, for example.

The electromagnetic-radiation-emitting optoelectronic componentcomprises the housing and at least one luminescence diode, for examplein the form of a luminescence diode chip, which is mounted in thehousing.

A method for producing a housing for an optoelectronic component or anelectromagnetic-radiation-emitting component is specified. One methodstep comprises providing a housing or a component having a housing. Afurther method step comprises applying a screening layer to at least oneportion of exterior, laterally disposed surfaces of the housing, that isto say to at least one portion of exterior side faces of the housing.

Particularly preferably, applying the screening layer comprises the useof pad printing. Pad printing is an indirect printing method that issuitable in particular for printing plastic bodies. By means of padprinting, even nonplanar, for example convexly or concavely curved,faces can be provided with a material to be applied.

In addition or as an alternative, applying the screening layer maycomprise the use of at least one of the methods of screen printing,inkjet printing, plastic coating and powder coating.

Further advantages, preferred embodiments and developments of thehousing, of the component and of the method emerge from the exemplaryembodiments explained below in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 13, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 show different schematic perspective illustrations of ahousing in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment,

FIGS. 4 and 5 show different schematic perspective illustrations of ahousing in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a component inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment and of a housing inaccordance with a third exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a component inaccordance with a second exemplary embodiment and of a housing inaccordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a housing inaccordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a luminous modulewith a component in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment and ahousing in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 10 shows a schematic sectional view of a component in accordancewith a fourth exemplary embodiment and of a housing in accordance with aseventh exemplary embodiment,

FIGS. 11 to 13 show schematic sectional views of different method stagesof an exemplary embodiment of the method.

In the exemplary embodiments and figures, identical or identicallyacting constituent parts are provided with the same reference symbols ineach case. The illustrated constituent parts and the size relationshipsamong the constituent parts should not necessarily be regarded as trueto scale. Rather, some details of the figures may be illustrated in anexaggerated size in order to afford a better understanding. This appliesparticularly to the exemplary illustrations of the screening layer.

The housing 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a housing body 25 having acavity 50. The opening of the cavity 50 has an elongate cross-sectionalarea embodied for example in the manner of a rectangle having roundededges. The cavity 50 is provided for the purpose of mounting at leastone luminescence diode chip in it and electrically conductivelyconnecting said chip. The housing illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 isprovided for example for four or five luminescence diode chips which aremounted at a bottom of the cavity 50 in a linear arrangement, by way ofexample.

The housing body 25 has for example a plastic material or comprises sucha plastic material. A thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic ispreferably used for this, for example polyphthalamide. Fillers may beadded to the plastic material. Examples of suitable fillers are bariumsulphate, anatase (which is a modification of TiO₂) andpolytetrafluorethylene (PTFE, for example Teflon), which are preferablyadded with a proportion by volume of up to 50%. A furthermore preferredproportion by volume lies in the range of between approximately 5% andapproximately 15%.

The housing 2 has an external face 24 of the housing body, whichexternal face is disposed on the front side and extends perpendicular toa main emission direction of the housing that is provided for acomponent. In addition, the housing body has four exterior side faces23. One of these exterior side faces 23 is provided with a screeninglayer 3.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the screeninglayer 3 completely covers the one exterior side face. However, it isalso possible for this exterior side face 23 to be only partly coveredby the screening layer 3. By way of example, only an upper half may beprovided with the screening layer 3.

The exterior side face 23 provided with the screening layer 3 isinclined with respect to a plane running perpendicular to a mountingplane of the housing. The side face is embodied in planar fashion and istilted by an angle 31 with respect to the plane, see FIG. 3. The angle31 is between 30° and 60° inclusive, for example 50°.

The screening layer 3 comprises a reflective material, for example,which has metallic material such as silver, by way of example. In orderto form the screening layer, e.g. a silver layer having a sufficientlyhigh layer thickness is applied on the corresponding exterior side face23. Silver has a high reflectivity for a large spectral range of visiblelight. In order to obtain complete screening, the silver layer must notbe just a few monolayers thick, since otherwise it is partlytransmissive for electromagnetic radiation. It has a thickness of 10 μmby way of example.

In addition or as an alternative, the screening layer 3 may also haveabsorbent material, by way of example. Metallic material, havingpredominantly absorbent properties for an envisaged spectral range, islikewise appropriate for this, by way of example. In the case of theabsorbent material, too, it is important not to apply it in anexcessively thin layer, in order that an electromagnetic radiationgenerated in the interior of the housing can be screened to the greatestpossible extent. The screening layer has a total transmittance of lessthan or equal to 0.01, by way of example, for a wavelength range to bescreened. By way of example, lacquers or plastics are also appropriateas absorbent material.

In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, the screening layer 3has a reflective layer which is applied on the corresponding exteriorside face 23 and on which an absorbent layer is in turn applied. Theabsorbent layer is a black lacquer or a black plastic, by way ofexample. These are absorbent in particular for visible electromagneticradiation. As an alternative, the screening layer 3 may for example alsoonly comprise a sufficiently thick black lacquer or black plastic layer.

In the case of the housing 2 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in contrastto the housing described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, anexterior side face 23 is only partly covered with a screening layer 3.The exterior side face 23 that is partly covered with the screeninglayer 3 has a first and a second portion. Both portions are embodied inplanar fashion, by way of example. The first portion runs for exampleperpendicular with respect to a mounting plane of the housing 2. Thesecond portion is inclined, for example by 55°, with respect to thefirst portion. Said second portion is completely covered with thescreening layer 3, by way of example. The first portion is free of thescreening layer. As an alternative, the first portion may also becovered with the screening layer.

For the rest, the housing 2 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be embodiedlike the housing explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Thesame applies to possible compositions, materials and constructions ofthe screening layer 3.

The components illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 have a housing 2 having acarrier 21 and a frame 22 arranged on the carrier 21. The frame 22 hasinternal walls 5 which delimit a cavity 50. A plurality of semiconductorchips 4 are arranged in a linear arrangement in the cavity 50 embodiedlike a trench.

In the case of the component illustrated in FIG. 6, the luminescencediode chips 4 are arranged along a straight line. In contrast thereto,in the case of the component illustrated in FIG. 7, the luminescencediode chips 4 are arranged partly along a first straight line and partlyalong a second straight line, the first and second straight linesforming an angle of 15°, for example, with one another. The arrangementof the semiconductor chips thus has a bend.

The internal walls 5 of the cavity 50 are at a relatively small distancefrom the luminescence diode chips 4. The distance is for example lessthan or equal to a lateral edge length of the luminescence diode chips4. The bottom of the cavity 50 correspondingly has a relatively smallarea.

The luminescence diode chips 4 are electrically mounted in the housing2; by way of example, they are connected in series with one another inthis case. For this purpose, the bottom of the cavity 50 has a pluralityof internal electrical contact areas 12, the luminescence diode chips,e.g. on their side facing the bottom 54 of the cavity 50, beingelectrically conductively connected to the corresponding internalcontact areas 12 e.g. by means of soldering or conductive adhesive andbearing on a portion of the respective contact area 12. A side of theluminescence diode chips 4 that faces away from the internal contactareas 12 is electrically conductively connected to the correspondingcontact area e.g. by means of a bonding wire 46.

Two of the internal contact areas 12 extend on the carrier 21 as far asa region of the carrier 21 that is offset laterally with respect to theframe 22, where they are electrically conductively connected to externalcontacts 14 of the component 1, via which the component 1 can beelectrically connected externally.

The luminescence diode chips 4 emit e.g. an electromagnetic radiationfrom a blue or ultraviolet wavelength range during their operation.

By way of example, the frame has aluminium oxide or comprises thelatter. As an alternative, it is also possible for the frame to have orcomprise a less reflective material, such as e.g. aluminium nitride or aliquid crystal polymer (LCP). The use of LCP as a material for the frame22 has the advantage that the material can be thermally adapted to thecarrier 21. The carrier 21 has as material aluminium nitride, forexample, which is cost-effective and has a high thermal conductivity. Byway of example, silicon or silicon carbide are also possible asalternative materials.

The housing 2 of the components 1 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 has aninternal wall delimiting the cavity 50 on a side along the arrangementof the luminescence diode chips 4, at least one section of the internalwall being embodied as a screening wall 51. The emission of theradiation into an undesirable spatial region can be suppressed by such ascreening wall. For this purpose, the screening wall 51 expediently runsessentially at an angle of greater than or equal to 80° and less than orequal to 110° with respect to a mounting plane of the luminescence diodechips 4. In particular, the screening wall runs essentiallyperpendicular to the mounting plane.

The luminescence diode chips 4 are arranged at a distance 53 of, forexample, less than or equal to 100 μm from the screening wall 51. Givensuch a small distance 53, an effective screening effect of the screeningwall 51 can be achieved even when the screening wall 51 is maderelatively low, that is to say when it has a small height. In addition,as a result of said small distance, part of the electromagneticradiation emitted by the luminescence diode chips 4 impinges on thescreening wall 51 with a high radiation intensity per area, whereby itlargely becomes possible both to avoid radiation at an undesirable solidangle and for the electromagnetic radiation to be emitted into adesired, preferably narrow, solid angle and with a high radiationdensity.

These properties are desirable particularly in the case of headlights,for example in the case of automobile headlights, which are intended toilluminate a specific solid angle as brightly as possible. In the caseof automobile headlights, by way of example, the intention on the onehand is for the travel path, and that is to say in particular the road,to be illuminated as brightly as possible, but on the other handoncoming vehicles must not be dazzled, so that an emission of light intothe upper solid angle is undesirable and avoided to the greatestpossible extent. This is precisely what can be achieved by means of acomponent with a screening wall 51. In addition, the elongatedarrangement of the luminescence diode chips 4 enables a bright andareal, homogeneous illumination of the path or road across the entirewidth of the road.

In the case of the components 1 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, thatexterior side face 23 of the frame 21 which is opposite the screeningwall 51 is in each case provided with a screening layer 3. The lattermay be embodied in the manner already described above. Avoidance ofradiation emission into an undesirable solid angle can be realized moreextensively by means of the screening layer 3.

The housing 2 illustrated in FIG. 8 likewise has a carrier 21 and aframe 22. On two mutually opposite sides, the housing 2 has electricalexternal contact areas 14 which are electrically conductively connectedto internal electrical contact areas 12. The housing 2 is provided for anumber n of luminescence diode chips and has 2*n external contact areas14, so that it is possible for each luminescence diode chip mounted insuch a housing 2 to be driven independently of the other luminescencediode chips. The external contact areas 14, electrical contact areas 12and conductor tracks between these contact areas are formed for exampleby means of metal coatings on the carrier 21. A suitable metal is gold,by way of example.

At those sides at which no external contact areas 14 are formed, theexternal side faces 23 of the housing 2 are in each case provided with ascreening layer 3. The screening layer 3 extends over external sidefaces 23 both of the carrier 21 and of the frame 22. Frame and carrierhave a ceramic material, for example, such as aluminium nitride, by wayof example, or comprise such a material.

FIG. 9 illustrates a luminous module 150 having a single component 1.The component 1 has such small dimensions that it can advantageously beused in many kinds of ways and be mounted in a technically simplemanner.

The luminous module 150 has a module carrier 18, into which two holes 17are introduced. The holes 17 serve for mechanical mounting and, as analternative or in addition, also for thermal connection of the luminousmodule 150. By way of example, the luminous module 150 can be placed bythe holes 17 over one or two mounting pins with or without a thread andbe fixed by means of clamps or screws.

The luminous module 150 illustrated in FIG. 9 contains a matingconnector 160, so that electrical contact can be made with it externallyby means of a corresponding connector. In addition, the luminous module150 has, for example, an overvoltage protection for the luminescencediode chips 4. Such protection is provided for example in the form of atleast one varistor 161 connected in parallel with the component 1 orwith luminescence diode chips 4.

The component 1 contained in the luminous module 150 is constructedsimilarly to the component 1 explained above with reference to FIG. 8.It has a carrier 21, a frame 22 and four luminescence diode chips 4. Theframe 22 is provided with a screening layer 3 all around at all of itsexternal side faces. By contrast, the carrier 21 is free of a screeninglayer, by way of example. As an alternative, the luminous module may, ofcourse, also have a different component having e.g. a housing 2 asdescribed above by way of example with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

The housings 2 and components 1 described may be used in particular fora headlight module, in particular also for automobile applications. Theymay likewise be suitable for projection applications.

The components 1 emit white light, for example, for which purpose theyhave a luminescence conversion element, by way of example, whichconverts the radiation of a first wavelength range that is emitted bythe luminescence diode chips 4 at least partly into a radiation of asecond wavelength range, which is different from the first wavelengthrange. White light can be generated either by the radiation emitted bythe luminescence diode chip being mixed with the converted radiation orby the converted radiation having colour components which, mixedtogether, produce white light.

The luminescence conversion material may contain at least one phosphor.By way of example, inorganic phosphors, such as garnets doped with rareearths (in particular Ce), or organic phosphors, such as perylenephosphors, are suitable for this purpose. Further suitable phosphors arepresented in WO 98/12757, for example, the content of which in thisrespect is hereby incorporated by reference.

The luminescence diode chips 4 may either be encapsulated with anencapsulant based for example on silicone, or be covered with aradiation-transmissive covering plate, whereby they are protected fromexternal influences.

The construction of the housing 2 with a carrier 21 and a frame 22 andalso with contact areas 12, 14 applied on the carrier 21 means that thecomponent 1 can be produced in a simple manner that does not requiree.g. complicated production of plated-through holes. As an alternative,however, the housing body may also be formed in one piece, for exampleby encapsulating a leadframe by injection-moulding, said leadframecomprising the respective contacts for the luminescence diode chips 4and the component 1.

One example of such a housing with a leadframe 47 is illustrated in FIG.10. It has e.g. a single luminescence diode chip 4, which iselectrically conductively connected to two electrical connectionconductors of the leadframe 47. The leadframe 47 is encapsulated with ahousing body by moulding by means of an injection-moulding compositionor casting composition comprising plastic.

All the external side faces of the housing 2 are provided with ascreening layer 3, these e.g. also extending over portions of theleadframe.

The luminescence diode chips 4 are light-emitting diode chips, by way ofexample; they are preferably thin-film light-emitting diode chips.

A thin-film light-emitting diode chip is distinguished in particular bythe following characteristic features:

-   a reflective layer is applied or formed at a first main area of a    radiation-generating epitaxial layer sequence that faces towards a    carrier element, said reflective layer reflecting at least one    portion of the electromagnetic radiation generated in the epitaxial    layer sequence back into the latter;-   the epitaxial layer sequence has a thickness in the region of 20 μm    or less, in particular in the region of 10 μm; and-   the epitaxial layer sequence contains at least one semiconductor    layer with at least one area which has an intermixing structure    which ideally leads to an approximately ergodic distribution of the    light in the epitaxial layer sequence, that is to say that it has an    as far as possible ergodically stochastic scattering behaviour.

A basic principle of a thin-film light-emitting diode chip is describedfor example in I. Schnitzer et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 63 (16), 18 Oct.1993, 2174-2176, the disclosure content of which in this respect ishereby incorporated by reference.

A thin-film light-emitting diode chip is, to a good approximation, aLambert surface radiator and is therefore particularly well suited toapplication in the component, in particular for a headlight.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, at least one portion ofthe screening layer 3 or the entire screening layer 3 may be applied bymeans of pad printing. Different method stages of an exemplary method ofthis type are illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13.

A pad 100 is provided with a screening material 101. For this purpose,the pad is for example pressed onto an apparatus on which the screeningmaterial has been applied. Apparatuses of this type are referred to as aprinting plate or block. The pad 100 comprises a highly elastic materialwhich, by way of example, has or comprises a rubber. Silicone rubber isparticularly suitable.

FIG. 11 illustrates a pad 100 wetted with a screening material 101 suchas black ink, by way of example. The pad 100 is guided downwards onto anoblique exterior side face 23 of a housing 2. The direction of movementof the pad 100, indicated by an arrow in FIG. 11, runs perpendicular toa mounting plane of the housing 2. The exterior side face 23 to beprinted is thus inclined by an angle of less than 90°, for example 45°with respect to the direction along which the pad 100 is guided onto thehousing 2.

When the pad 100 is pressed against the housing 2, it deforms andmatches the oblique profile of the exterior side face 23 to be printed,see FIG. 12.

The pad 100 is subsequently guided away from the housing 2 again, whichis in turn indicated by an arrow in FIG. 13. That screening materialwhich comes into contact with the exterior side face 23 to be printedwhen the pad is pressed on the latter adheres to the housing 2 and formsat least one portion of a screening layer 3, see FIG. 13.

These method steps can be repeated any number of times as required. Bymeans of method steps of this type it is also possible, by way ofexample, to successively apply different screening materials on exteriorside faces of the housing 2. It is possible, of course, for all theexterior side faces to be completely covered with one or more screeningmaterials 101 by means of pad printing.

As an alternative or in addition to pad printing, the screening layermay also be applied at least partly by means of screen printing. Forthis purpose, by way of example, a screen or a mask is applied to anexterior side face of the housing, to which a screening material issubsequently applied. The screening material has a viscosity suitablefor screen printing. It may comprise e.g. a black lacquer or some otherblack ink. A squeegee is used to distribute the screening material incutouts in the screen or the mask on the exterior side face.

As a further alternative or supplementary method, e.g. inkjet printingis also suitable for applying screening material. In particularabsorbent ink, e.g. black ink, can be applied in this way. By way ofexample, a conventional CIJ printer (“continuous inkjet” printer), isused for this purpose. The use of a DOD printer (“drop on demand”printer) is likewise possible.

In addition or as an alternative to the methods described above, metallayers, in particular, may be applied for example by means of vapourdeposition, sputtering or adhesive-bonding.

Furthermore, by way of example, plastic coating is also suitable forapplying the screening material.

In addition or as an alternative, both metal layers and plastic layerscan also be applied by means of powder coating, for example. It ispossible e.g. to use an electrostatic powder coating or a different typeof powder coating. The screening material is applied in the form of apowder in this case. The latter is subsequently heated, as a result ofwhich it combines to form an integral layer, by way of example, andadheres to the surface to which it was applied.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments by thedescription of the invention on the basis of said exemplary embodiments.Rather, the invention encompasses any new feature and also anycombination of features, which in particular comprises any combinationof features in the patent claims, even if this feature or thiscombination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims orexemplary embodiments.

1. A housing for an electromagnetic-radiation-emitting optoelectroniccomponent, comprising: exterior side faces for the housing; and ascreening layer applied on at least part of the exterior side faces andbeing suitable for screening an electromagnetic radiation.
 2. Thehousing according to claim 1, wherein the screening layer has a materialthat is reflective for the electromagnetic radiation.
 3. The housingaccording to claim 1, wherein, the screening layer has a material thatis absorbent for the electromagnetic radiation.
 4. The housing accordingto claim 3, wherein the screening layer has a black material.
 5. Thehousing according to claim 1, wherein the screening layer has a lacquer.6. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the exterior side facescomprise external faces of a housing body which has ceramic material. 7.The housing according to claim 1, wherein the exterior side facescomprise external faces of a housing body which has plastic material. 8.The housing according to claim 1, wherein the exterior side faces are atleast partly inclined with respect to a plane running perpendicular to amounting plane of the housing.
 9. The housing according to claim 8,wherein the exterior side faces are inclined with respect to the planeat least partly between 30° and 60° inclusive.
 10. The housing accordingto claim 1, wherein at least one exterior side face is essentiallycompletely covered with the screening layer.
 11. The housing accordingto claim 1, wherein the screening layer has plastic or comprisesplastic.
 12. An electromagnetic-radiation-emitting component having atleast one luminescence diode, comprising a housing according to claim 1.13. A method for producing a housing for anelectromagnetic-radiation-emitting optoelectronic component or anelectromagnetic-radiation-emitting component, comprising the steps of:providing a housing or a component having a housing; and applying ascreening layer to at least one portion of exterior side faces of thehousing.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein applying thescreening layer comprises the use of pad printing.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein applying the screening layer comprisesthe use of screen printing.
 16. The method according to claim 13,wherein applying the screening layer comprises the use of inkjetprinting.
 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein applying thescreening layer comprises the use of plastic coating.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein applying the screening layer comprisesthe use of powder coating.